Machine for cutting veneer



July 3, w45.

G. COLUCCI `ETAL MACHINE FOR CUTTING VEIEER Filed March 4,1944

ATTORNEYS I log while the latter is rotated in a lathe.

Patented July 3,1945

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE;

MACHINE FOR CUTTING VNEER Giovanni Colucci, Harbor Island, and John Colucci, Jr., Wilmington, N. C.

Y 8 Claims. This invention relates tomachines for clipping veneer and more particularly to improvements therein whereby the strip of veneer as it is cut may be clipped into sheets of the desired width with clean squared edges.

vIn the productio-n of veneer, it is cut from a The veneer is delivered to a conveyor which supports the relatively fragile material. Division of the strip into sheets has been accomplished heretofore by manual operation of workmen stationed beside the conveyor. Considerable loss is sustained in this procedure because o f the necessity for trimming the sheets to standard size. YAt

-tempts to perform the work mechanically have presented certain difculties. One of the difculties encountered is that the strip moves forwardly at a substantial rate andthe forwardedge tends to follow the upward movement of a mechanically operated knife after a sheet has `been severed from the strip. The strip may curl operation.

Other objects'land advantages of the invention will be apparent as it is better understood by reference to the following specification and the accompanying drawing, in which Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic illustration of the apparatus for forming, conveying and cutting the strip;

Fig. 2 is a detail partially in section illustrating the operation; I

Fig. 3' is a similar view showing .a part. of the mechanismof Fig. 2 and illustrating another phase of the operation; l

Fig. 4 is a plan view partially in section of a portion of the machine; and

Fig, 5 is a section on the line 5-5 of Fig. 4.

Referring to the drawing, 5 indicates a log which is rotated clockwise in a lathe' (not shown) and is engaged by a knife 6 which. shaves a strip lI of veneer from the log. The strip is delivered to a. conveyor belt 8 which-is sup-A ported on rollers 9 and pulleys I0. One of the pulleys I0 is driven by a belt Il from a gear box I2 connected to a motor I3. Thespeed of the conveyor may be varied. It is operated preferably at a speedof 10i) feet per minute or at` the rate of formation of l'the veneer strip.

Spaced from the conveyor 8, 'a second con- 30- strlp beneath the knife after each successive connected to a gear box I8 and a motor I9. The

higher rate, for example 110 feet per minute. It receives and delivers the sheets 2li as the latter are formed from thestrip 1. The sheets may be accumulated on a truck or other conveying means `2 I.

For the'purpose of severing the sheets 20 from the strip 1, a knife 22 is supported at the end of the conveyor 8 for co-operation with a shear block23. The knife maybe actuated through a cam 25 by a motor 25 when the latter is energized. When the knife descends, it shears the strip l transversely, thusdividing it into the desired sheets.

' In order that the sheets may be of uniform length, I provide a supporting frame 25 above the end of the conveyor 8 with a shaft-2l extending through suitable bearings therein. A frame 28 is pivotally mounted on the shaft 2 and carries a transverse shaft 2Q in suitable bearings to Support measuring rolls ilrwhich rest upon the strip 1 as it passes over the conveyor 6. The measuring rolls 30 may be of a size such that the circumference is equal to the desired length of the sheets to be formed from the strip. Rolls of different sizes may .be provided sothat they may be substituted on the shaft 219 when sheets of different length are desired.

A sprocket 3I is secured to the shaft 29 and connected by a chain 32 to a sprocket 35i; on the shaft 2i. vThe'sprockets 3i and 33 are of equal size so that regardless ofthe size of the rolls 3l) each complete revolution thereof will cause a complete revolution of the shaft 2i. The latter vshaft carries a disc 34 having an opening 3-5 therein. At each completerevolution of theA shaft 2l, the opening `35 is interposed Ibetween a source of light 36 and an electric eye 3l.

The light beam, which normally does not affect the electric eye 3l, energizes it at each complete revolution of the disc 3d.

veyor I`4'is supported on rollers I5 and pulleys I6. One of the pulleys is driven by a belt I1 vThe electric eye is connected by conductors 38 to an amplifier 39 which in turn is connected by conductors 40 through a source of current M to a relay 42. The relay is adapted to close a circuit through the conductors 43 and 4'8 from a source of current to the motor 25. The latter is energized, therefore, upon each complete revolution of the disc 34 Awhereby the knife 22 is' moved to .and from cuttingpositio. The details of the electric eye, amplifier, relay and motor are all well known in the art andrequire no further description.

As previously indicated, one of the diicultles experienced in the attempt at mechanical cutting of veneer strips is clue tothe fact that the strip advances .while thev knife ,is Vin cutting position. It backs up against the knife as indicatedv in Fig. 2, and as the knife is lifted the end of 'the strip 'tends to follow the knife upwardly. Unless prefail to pass beneath the knife for the successive cutting operation. .To avoid this dimculty, I provented, the strip will curl backwardlv and will to 4be energized at each complete revolution of the rollers and a bar associated with the knife on the side of the knife from which the strip advances to limit upward movement of the free endof the l strip with the knife as the latter rises after the i cuttingy operation.

strip advances. It is so positioned that the knife will be raised above the lower edge of the barwhen the knife is in its uppermost position. As the knife lifts the end4 of 'the strip, the latter will engage the bar and disengage the knife, whereupon the end will move forwardly to its normal position as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 3. 'The end will advance then onto the conveyor it and in due course will be severed by the next descending movement of the knife to form. a sheet of the desired dimensions.

Although the particular manner in which the bar it is mounted is unimportant, I find it to be desirable to provide for adjustment. For that purpose, the bar may be supported on a plate extending transversely of the machine by bolts di?. The ends oi the plates may be mounted in any suitable guideways. To permit adjustment, screws dii are provided in the frame 2t andengage an angle bar leon the plate 46. Thus the bar de may be vadjusted to close engagement with the knife 22 to ensure that the function of the -bar de is performed accurately in its intended manner.

The apparatus as described hasbeen utlized in the practical operation of cutting veneer strips into sheets. The sheets are accurately sized and the machine can be operated -continuously without dimculty resulting from curling of the veneer strip behind the knife. l

- Various changes may be made in the structure as described and particularly in the details thereof without departing from the invention or sacri- I ilcing the advantages thereof. y

knife constantly bearing against the advancing 4. In an apparatus for cutting veneer froma traveling strip, a reciprocating knife adapted to engage and sever the strip at intervals, interchangeable rollers of diiierent diameters engagv ing the strip and rotated by passage of the strip therepast, means controlled-by a predetermined rotation of the rollers/for actuating the knife and a bar associated with the knife on the side ofthe knife from which the stripadvances tolimit upward movement of the free end of the strip with the knife as the latter rises after the cutting operation.

5. In an apparatus for cutting veneer from a traveling strip, a reciprocating knife adapted to engage and sever the-strip at intervals, means controlled by the travel of the strip to actuate the knife, including interchangeable rollers of dierent diameters engaging the strip and a photoelectrically actuated relay adapted to be energized at each complete revolution of the rollers and a bar associated with the knife on the side -of the knife from which the strip advances 6. In an apparatus for cutting veneer lfrom atraveling strip, the combination of means for adstrip for initiating actuation 4of the actuating means for the knife after the passage of a predetermined length of strip therepast, and a bar associated with the knife on the side of the knife from which the strip advances to limit upward movement of the free end .of the strip with the knife as the. latter rises after the cutting operation. l

2. In an apparatus for'cutting' veneer .from a traveling strip, a reciprocating knife adapted to engage and sever the strip at intervals, a rollerengaging the strip and rotated by passage of the striptherepast, means controlled by a predetermined rotation of lthe roller for actuating the traveling strip, a. reciprocating knife adapted'to engage and sever the strip at intervals, means controlled bythe travel of the strlp to actuate the knife, in cluding rollers engaging the strip and a photoelectrically actuated relay adapted .-'vancing the strip continuously, a reciprocating knife, motor means for actuating the knife, a measuring device adapted to engage the advancing strip and to control the actuation of the knife when a predetermined length-1` of the strip has passed, and a bar associated with the knife on the side thereof from which the-stripadvances to prevent the free end of the,strip from following the knife as it is lifted after the cutting operation. f

7. In an apparatus for cutting veneer from a traveling strip, the combination of means for ad vancing the sheet continuously, `a reciprocating knife, motor means for actuating lthe knife, a measuring device adapted to engage the advancing strip and to, control the actuation of the knife when a predetermined length of thestrip has passed, including a photoelectrically actuated relay, meanscontrolled by the measuring device to energize the relay and an electric circuit to the motor means controlled by the relay, and a bar associated with the knife on the side vthereoffrom which the strip advances to prevent the free end ofthe strip'from 'following ation. v. 8. In an apparatus for cutting veneer from a the knifeas it is lifted after the cutting opertraveling strip, the combination of means foradvancing the s'trip continuously, a reciprocating knife, motor means for actuating the knife, a

v measuring device adapted to engage the advanc-` energize the relay and an electric circuit tothe motor'means controlled by the relay.

GIOVANNI coLUccr; JonN c:oLUccr. Jn. 

